Description

HANS HEINZ BOLLMANN (HAMBURG, GERMANY, DECEMBER 1, 1889 – HAMBURG, GERMANY, JULY 9, 1974)

He descended from a family of old businessmen from Hamburg. Initially, he aspired to become a dentist. He studied singing in Hamburg and further perfected his vocal technique under Enrico Rosario in Milan. He began his stage career in the 1912-1913 season, performing at the Stadttheater in Bochum. He was then engaged by the Stadttheater in Wilhelmshaven for the 1913-1915 seasons. After the First World War, he resumed his career, singing at the Stadttheater of Nuremberg in 1919.

From 1921 to 1925, he was a member of the Stadttheater (Opernhaus) in Hamburg. In the 1925-1926 season, he joined the Berlin State Opera, before transitioning to the operetta repertoire. He performed at various operetta stages in the German capital, including the Theater des Westens in Berlin during the 1927-1928 season, the Theater in Admiralspalast in the 1930-1931 season, the Berlin Metropoltheater in the 1935-1936 season (where he starred in the 1935 premiere of Ball der Nationen by Fred Raymond), and the Theater des Volkes in the 1937-1938 season.

In 1927, he achieved sensational success in Berlin with the operetta Eine Frau von Format, opposite Fritzi Massary. From 1928 to 1932, he guest-performed at the Theater in Vienna and the Johann Strauss Theater in Vienna. In 1938, he was heard at the Raimund Theater in Vienna, where he had sung in the 1931 premiere of Franz Lehár’s operetta Schön ist die Welt. In Berlin, he performed with Vera Schwarz in 1928 in L. Ascher’s La Barberina. He was considered a favorite singer of Franz Lehár, achieving great success in roles such as Danilo in Die lustige Witwe, the title role in Paganini, Goethe in Friederike, and Armand in Der Graf von Luxemburg.

His operatic repertoire included roles such as Don José in Carmen, Max in Der Freischütz, Rodolfo in La Bohème, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, and Count Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia. He also made guest appearances in Paris, London, and the USA. Beginning in 1930, he also performed as a film singer, appearing in films such as Frasquita, A Song for You, and Der Bettelstudent (1931) with Jarmila Novotná.

His first wife was the operetta singer Friedel Bollmann. His daughter, Hannelore Bollmann, became a well-known actress.

TRACKLIST

1. Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Addio alla madre 10557a Gloria
2. Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Siciliana 10557b Gloria
3. Carmen (Bizet): Il fior 27630a Gloria
4. Trovatore (Verdi): Duo with Sabine Kalter 80460 7437 Odeon, Berlin 1926-03-05 (ac)
5. Trovatore (Verdi): Mal reggendo with Sabine Kalter 80461 74378 Odeon, Berlin 1926-03-05 (ac)
6. Fanciulla del West (Puccini): Che’lla mi creda 4-8849 52349 Homokord
7. Gioconda (Ponchielli): Cielo e mar 4-8849 52350 Homokord
8. Forza del Destino (Verdi): Solenne in quest’ora with Manfred Lewandowsky 4-8907 52482 Homokord
9. Pescatori di Perle (Bizet): Del tempio al limitar with Manfred Lewandowsky 4-8907 52483 Homokord
10. Madama Butterfly (Puccini): Bimba non piangere with Gita Alpar 4-9035 2-53033 Homokord
11. Madama Butterfly (Puccini): Quest’obi pomposa with Gita Alpar 4-9035 2-53034 Homokord
12. Mignon (Thomas): Addio, Mignon E.G. 390 8-42021 Electrola
13. Der Postillon von Lonjumeau (Adam): Postillon-Lied E.G. 390 8-42022 Electrola
14. Der Göttergatte (Lehar) Was ich längst erträumte Homocord 4-8910 52509
15. Der Zarewitsch (Lehar) Wolgalied Homocord 4-8910 52508
16. Die Lustige Witwe (Lehar) Das Lied vom dummen Reiter with Vera Schwarz Homocord 4-8906 52481
17. Die Perle vom Lido (Tilmar Springefeld) Homocord 4-8904 52487
18. Friederike (Lehar) Sah’ ein Knab ein Röslein stehn Homocord 4-8915 52511
19. Friederike (Lehar) O Mädchen, mein Mädchen Homocord 4-8915 52512
20. Gräfin Mariza (Kalman) Grüß mir mein Wien Homocord 4-3361 62085